>From herbie ford-trucks.com Wed Oct 7 06:11:48 1998
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 06:11:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: owner-97up-list-digest ford-trucks.com (97up-list-digest)
To: 97up-list-digest ford-trucks.com
Subject: 97up-list-digest V1 #237
Reply-To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Sender: owner-97up-list-digest ford-trucks.com


97up-list-digest Wednesday, October 7 1998 Volume 01 : Number 237



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Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer Trucks and Vans
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In this issue:

Re: FTE 97up - I have to pay extra to get tires with a 5.4L?
Re: FTE 97up - 5.4L Cold Start Knock
FTE 97up - My new, and first, Ford
Re: FTE 97up - '99 F250 LD Purchase - Thoughts?
Re: FTE 97up - My new, and first, Ford
FTE 97up - Aux. Fuel Tanks
FTE 97up - Skidplates
Re: FTE 97up - Skidplates
Re: FTE 97up - My new, and first, Ford
FTE 97up - Bed Liner Quality and Appearance
Re: FTE 97up - Bed Liner Quality and Appearance

=======================================================================

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Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 09:58:47 -0500
From: "Union Auto"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - I have to pay extra to get tires with a 5.4L?

I put the order in the Computer and it comes back T65 tire added with
powertrain due to weight restrictions. The tires are not required on a
short box.

Nathan Bernard
Union Auto, Inc.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Jordan Rautiola
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 9:09 PM
Subject: FTE 97up - I have to pay extra to get tires with a 5.4L?


>This one takes the cake! I am ready to order an XLT 4x4 SC long bed,
>but the dealer tells me that T65, which is P255/70-16 tires, is required
>with 5.4L engine, and it will cost an extra $400 (list)! If I go with
>the 4.6L, there is no extra charge for tires, I get the standard
>235/70-16 for free. There's got to be something wrong here. I would
>greatly appreciate hearing from someone ASAP who knows about this. All
>I want is plain jane, no frills tires with a 5.4L engine on the truck,
>but apparently I can't get them, at least not without paying extra (I
>plan to put on 285/75-16s as soon as the truck is delivered). HELP!!!
>
>______________________________________________________
> >== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 11:45:34 -0400
From: Mark Lee
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - 5.4L Cold Start Knock

Ford won't even talk to me directly. They choose to hide behind the
dealer. My dealer told me they wouldn't even consider a buy back unless
I took a 25% hit on depreciation. That's way too big as hit.

How many miles did your vehicle have on it and what depreciation % did
they charge you on settlement. Also, did Ford buy the vehicle back or
did the dealer?

I currently own a 99 Cougar, a 97 Mustang, an Eddie Bauer Expedition and
a Lincoln Mark VIII. If Ford doesn't care about customers like me,
maybe it's time to change car companies.

Dissatisfied with Ford...

M Lee
Waterloo, Ontario

Morgan wrote:
>
> Just took possession of my new '99 F-150 today after Ford made a "buy back"
(shortened)
>
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 12:22:51 -0600
From: "Jarrell, Josh"
Subject: FTE 97up - My new, and first, Ford

Hello, My name is Josh Jarrell. I am a junior at a high school
in Missouri and I have just gotten a 1998 Ford F-150 STX, and it is a
4.2 (not as big as some of you guys have been talking about). I was
wondering if there is anything I can put in my truck, like a chip or
something, to make it run a bit faster. I also want to put an
exhaust system on it. What do you guys think would sound good and
make my truck breath easier? Also what kind of accessories would you
guys but on it? If you have not guest yet I am not very smart when
it comes to Trucks.

Josh
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 12:26:03 -0500
From: "Union Auto"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - '99 F250 LD Purchase - Thoughts?

I'd recommend the Automatic. It has a higher towing rating. More
importantly the automatics are holding together better than the 5 speeds (6
speed might be a different story it seems to be a better design). The early
90's automatic overdrives had problems but in the newer trucks we haven't
had very many give any problems. I think we had 2 automatics go out last
year but we also put bearings in 2 manuals. We sell about 90% automatics so
this ratio doesn't work out very well for the 5 speed. Neither transmission
is a bad transmission, though. We have yet to have an automatic go out of
a "new style" F-150 (or LD 250), but we have had 1 5 speed F-150 go bad
(Ford paid to fix it even at 60,000 miles.)

Nathan Bernard
Union Auto, Inc.
Union, IA 50258

- -----Original Message-----
From: STEPHEN_WITTE hp-sandiego-om2.om.hp.com

To: Dick_Dorff baynetworks.com ;
97up-list ford-trucks.com
Cc: WITTE_STEPHEN/hp-sandiego_om2 hpbs4993.boi.hp.com

Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - '99 F250 LD Purchase - Thoughts?


>
>
> Hi Dick,
>
> I replying to your letter about "...our upcoming (soon) placing of an
> order for a new '99 F250..."
>
> I had many of the same concerns as you have about towing capacity of
> manual tranny vs automatic tranny in ford's trucks. In my case I
> bought an '97 F350 crew cab w 4x4 460 and 3.55 ratios, (5 speed
> manual) new about 6 months ago. (I got a "good deal" off the lot, an
> even $25K)
>
> My truck has an "official" towing capacity of 5,900 lbs when most
> other F350's have a capacity of 10000 lbs +.
>
> I compared the manual against the auto, and yes there is a substantial
> increase in towing capacity for the auto (at least 2000 - 3000 lbs
> more). However, I have friends that own ford automatic transmissions.
> It is far too common to hear "I'm on my third transmission at only 80K
> miles on my F250". Until we start to see large numbers of new trucks
> actually making it to 100K or better yet 150K miles with no tranny
> overhauls, I say the manual is going to hold up better. Even with
> overloading it...
>
> Rear end ratios: I'd probably opt for the 3.73 because it will
> actually reduce the reflected load back at the tranny. I probably
> should have bought 4:10's for my truck, but that is all hindsight
> now...
>
> Regarding the kids in the back of an extended cab: Putting car seats
> in the back sideways is probably not a good idea. I suspect that any
> kids with car seats will have to go in the front seat, disable the
> airbags, and put the adults and larger kids in the back. Not a
> comfortable situation for any involved. That is why I insisted on a
> crew cab.
>
> - my 2 cents...
>
> - Stephen Witte


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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 13:53:23 -0400
From: Chad Royse
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - My new, and first, Ford

Sell it and put it towards your college tuition. ;)

Anyway, for as much as chips cost for these trucks it would have been cheaper to
opt for the larger motor. Perhaps with a K&N air filter and a some better
flowing exhaust you might (maybe notice some difference.

"Jarrell, Josh" wrote:

> Hello, My name is Josh Jarrell. I am a junior at a high school
> in Missouri and I have just gotten a 1998 Ford F-150 STX, and it is a
> 4.2 (not as big as some of you guys have been talking about). I was
> wondering if there is anything I can put in my truck, like a chip or
> something, to make it run a bit faster. I also want to put an
> exhaust system on it. What do you guys think would sound good and
> make my truck breath easier? Also what kind of accessories would you
> guys but on it? If you have not guest yet I am not very smart when
> it comes to Trucks.
>
> Josh
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 12:05:29 -0700
From: mikes53 juno.com (MICHAEL P SCHAFFER)
Subject: FTE 97up - Aux. Fuel Tanks

I need help again! Was wondering if anyone has added a aux. fuel tank to
a 1998 F-150 Super cab with the short bed? Any recommendations would be
appreciated. Thanks for any help. Mikes53 juno.com

___________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 16:06:57 -0400
From: Dick_Dorff baynetworks.com (Dick Dorff)
Subject: FTE 97up - Skidplates

Thanks to all so far for help received in response to my many
questions regarding our upcoming order of an '99 F250 L/D, S/C,
S/B, 4x4, 5.4l, 3.73, towing pkg. We considered all the input
seriously and it has helped immensly. I'll probably share
results of findings a little later.

One more question, if I may: I saw some trucks in the dealer's
lot that had one skid-type plate that protected the radiator. It
started underneat the front bumber and angled down to the bottom
of the engine compartment. Seemed like a nice air and slush
deflector if nothing else, to hopefully reduce the slush and
spray that reaches up into the engine compartment, and maybe
improve aerodynamics a bit. On-line pricing info, and '99
brochure say that the skidplate kit has skidplates for the
transfer case and the gas tank w/ no mention of that radiator
plate. Dealer says that that front skidplate is a radiator
protector and is on all the trucks. I'm not sure if it was on
all the trucks, or just some. Anyone know if this is on all
trucks, or comes with the skidplate kit, or comes with some other
package (ie ORP)? I'd like to get that plate but I don't plan on
doing any off-roading so I don't think I'd need the skidplate kit
otherwise (if it doesn't have that front one).

Thanks in advance,

- -Dick Dorff

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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 19:20:58 EDT
From: F150DML aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Skidplates

I have a '97 F-150 4X4 offroad. All 4X4's come standard with that skitplate
that covers the radiator. The skid plates that protect the transfer and front
diff are optional but standard on the offroad.
David
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 21:42:49 -0400
From: Jean Marc Chartier
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - My new, and first, Ford

Jarrell, Josh wrote:

> Hello, My name is Josh Jarrell. I am a junior at a high school
> in Missouri and I have just gotten a 1998 Ford F-150 STX, and it is a
> 4.2 (not as big as some of you guys have been talking about). I was
> wondering if there is anything I can put in my truck, like a chip or
> something, to make it run a bit faster. I also want to put an
> exhaust system on it. What do you guys think would sound good and
> make my truck breath easier? Also what kind of accessories would you
> guys but on it? If you have not guest yet I am not very smart when
> it comes to Trucks.
>
> Josh
>

Josh, The first smart thing you did was to buy a Ford. The second was
to ask questions about it. Unfortunately the best thing to do would have
been to do the above things in reverse order.
Having said this lets get on with your answer.
A larger engine would have made better sense, but...
There are at least 3 "chip" makers out there, Jet, Hypertech and
Superchips. It all depends how much you want to spend. Most chips will
give you some kind of increase in HP and Torque as will the exhaust
systems. As for exhaust there are countless dozens out there, from
Custom made to Gibson and Borla. I personally have a Superchips and a
Borla Cat back exhaust. At the time, early 1997 Borla was the only
company that I knew of that has a system for my truck. When I purchased
my first chip Jet was the only one available, a few months later I was
able to purchase a custom made Superchips. I am satisfied with the
purchases I have made. I have a 1997 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab with 4.6L V8
and 5 speed manual transmission.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier


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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 22:25:12 EDT
From: MRoadarDOJ aol.com
Subject: FTE 97up - Bed Liner Quality and Appearance

In a message dated 10/5/98 6:14:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time, dwhipkey gte.net
writes:




right. Try

happen.

- -- That's the whole point. Which you seem to have missed.



shelves and I


- -- So in other words, you buy something with the Rhino Liner texture to it so
that things in the box don't slide around. Which, of course, means that you
can't just slide those things into the box over your faux Rhino Liner "rubber
lace/mesh" thing anyway. So why not just get a Rhino Liner in the first
place? Or am I missing something?




finish.

- -- I don't know where you get your info, but the finish on the liner on my
truck is consistent both as to color and finish texture. Other than that, I
suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, since it's my truck, I
suppose I could be accused of some bias. But I've received a number of
unsolicited compliments from strangers in parking lots who just wander over to
look at the truck and have then commented favorably on the liner.

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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 21:06:28 -0700
From: dwhipkey gte.net
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Bed Liner Quality and Appearance

OK,

Again for the slow reader(s):

Rhino Linings non slip claims are right, so much so that it makes it
DIFFICULT to slide items into the bed of the truck..... I.E.If you're
gonna put a whole bunch of boxes in your truck, you can't put the first
on in and shove it up to the front easily.......are you with me so far?

Next (listen closely now) I use a piece of rubber mesh which has
similar properties to the rhino liner, but I can CHOOSE WHETHER I USE IT
OR NOT.

My top secret source for my info on the rhino lining as far as
finish....get this.......MY EYES. The stuff is mucho ugly. Now this is
just my opinion now, and doesn't constitute a personal attack on any
individual or bring their masculinity into question. Any "unsolicited
compliments" given to an individual are lovely, and I hope there are....

---

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